THE SUNSHINE DISASTER.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 227, 18 June 1908, Page 8

THE SUNSHINE DISASTER.

o EVIDENCE AT THE INQUIRY. WERE THE OFFICERS OVERWORKED? [FltOH OUIt SPECIAL COKIIESrOXDIiNT.] Sydney, Juno 13. , Certain evidence throwing light on tho allegations as, to the overworking of officiate at the Sunshine Railway Station, the sceno of the disaster on Easter Monday night, was given at tho inquiry on Thursday. . When Charles M'Caw, superintendent of the station service, was examined, ho stated that tho staff at Sunshine consisted of tho stationmaster, two telegraph operating porters, and ono junior, porter. Tho assistants worked three shifts, and tho stationmaster worked two shifts conjointly with the operating porters. Sunshine was t fairly busy station, but there wero 24 hours to do the work in, arid there were threo shifts, so that if tho work were proporly allotted, and the stationmaster did a fair share, no overtime should be required. If Kendall, the stationmaster, had been lato in sending in his returns, it was probably, witness suggested, because he had tried to do too much, and had not distributed his work amongst the men. Replying to questions by Mr. Chomley, the witness stated that Mr. Moffatt, when stationmaster, reported, in reply to a c.oruplaint that a return was two days lato, that he had had to work the signal box, and had had vory little chance to make returns; also, that' nearly all the returns had to be made out bj'. him when ho was off duty. He was a practical, capablo stationmastor, but the witness did not think tho work was properly allotted to the staff. When asked whether Mr. Wignall, who was stationmaster, asked tho general superintendent of transportation for assistance, saying that he had to put in. about fifteen hours per day to keep tho office work up-to-date, and requested that a competent man should bo sent to Sunshine to assist him, tho witness replied that ho did not remember seeing that. In 1907, said counsel, Mr; Kendall complained of delays causod by tho telegraphbox being separated from tho booking office. Did you give him extra help on special days when there wero picnics?— Not that 1 am aware of, was the reply. On days such as that of tho Bendigo railway picnic?— Not that 1 am awaro of. If additional assistance was considered no-, cessary by tho superintendent ho would supply it. . \ On July 26, 1907, Mr. Kendall reported that the work was too much for tho staff ?— It is necessary to get tho, returns in by .a certain date. If a man gives as an excuse that tho hours wero excessive, wo consider that. , ■ Ho constantly gave the excuso of 'overwork, and it was constantly accepted?—Ho may havo allowed his work to accumulate. Then why don't you reprimand him?—Wo draw his attention to tho fact. Thoy have to find..some excuse, and as a rule givo what would bo tho most acceptable. Mr. Kendall refers to having to rush from the signal-box to tho office, and asks for another operating porter or clerk. Ho says ho cannot stand tho strain. That was on August 14 last' year. What do you do when a report like that is received ? —An inspector goes out. Ho said the work was quito within his scope. On August 29, Mr. O'Connor; who was acting at Sunshino, askod for a porter. Ho said thero wero frequently fivo trains there, and that tho system was vory dangerous, and should bo stopped?—A portor was sont for show week. They wero vory busy at the Sunshino harvester works. The lato'letter from Mr. Kendall was dated March 6 of this year, about a month before tho accident. Ho said:— As previously advised, tho work that has to be dono at this station is far too much for three men to copo with, and most of tho work cannot be performed proporly, and therefore accumulates, and I havo to work. on Sundays, and at other times .longer hours, to keep things near the mark, which I find I cannot' do much longer, as it is too great a strain. Thoro is moro business to transact now than at any timo since I havo been here. It is necessary. to havo further assistance all tho • year round. I trust you will send as-' sistanco at once, as returns, otc., aro now behindhand, and wo aro doing our beat. What did you do thon?—'Wo sent out a lad. In answer to Mr. Starke, tho witness raid the salary of tho stationmaster at Sunshino. was £150 por.annum, and the total salaries £423. Evidenco was givon by tho stationmaster at Kyncton, Joseph" Goode, that he instructed tho guard of tho Bendigo train that it was to run right, through to North Melbourne, and that it was not to stop before reaching there. Tho Coroner: For what cause?— Because it was running 16 minutps late, and to make up time. Have you eyor given that direction before?—¥os. It is common in holiday time. . The metropolitan suporintondont, timothy Hayes, gavo evidence that, in his opinion, tho statements mado by the stationmasters who had been omployed at Sunshino, as to the amount of work they had had to do, wore exaggerated. Tho superintendent of tho locomotive running, Thomas J. Burgess, asked whether he had received tho slightest complaint that Milburn (the driver of tho train which caused tho damage) had run at an excessive rato of speed, or any compldint at all, replied, "On the contrary, ho was a vory good driver, indeed." A .juryman askod, "What hours did the drivers on tho Bendigo train work?" and tho witness replied; "Milburn was on for 12 hours 25 minutes, but lie-got paid for 15 hours 50 minutes, and would have got the day off." "Then, that is to say," queried the juryman, "that tho department practically put two days into one?" "Yes, that is what it practically means," was the reply.